The law of averages is as consistent as my ability to snap hook the first tee shot of the day. The founder of the breakfast ball is all of us. So, it came as little surprise that after correctly predicting how the seasons would end for the Reed, Spanish Springs and Sparks football teams in 2014 and 2015, I regressed to the mean in 2016. A .333 batting average would put me … [Read more...]
Reed Preview: New coaching staff, no new expectations
Raiders stay loaded, remain a contender despite Howren’s departure Most prep football coaches inherit limited expectations in their first season at a new school. They’re taking over a program that has struggled more often not. The coaching job was not vacant on accident. Tony Amantia does not belong to that faction. The former head coach at Bishop Manogue, Wooster and … [Read more...]
High Desert League capsules
A glance at the HDL’s six programs Is the No. 1 seed up for grabs? Some believe so. Others expect Tony Amantia to lead the Raiders to a league title in his first season replacing Ernie Howren. Reed has won the High Desert League title every year since the 4A North split into its current format before the 2012 season, compiling a 23-2 record in league play. If there is a … [Read more...]
High Desert League Coaches Poll
Coaches tab Reed favorite to defend league title All six High Desert League coaches anonymously participated in the Sparks Tribune 2017 preseason poll. Reed was picked to win what would be its sixth-straight HDL title, receiving four of the six first-place votes. Reno and McQueen also snared solo first-place votes. The HDL coaches almost nailed last year’s finishing … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: USL to Reno 1868 FC: Oops, Prep football practice begins, Miami should have signed Kaep?
Games are rarely won or lost in the first 30 minutes, regardless of sport. Clichés dictate contests are decided in the waning moments. That wasn’t the case for Reno 1868 FC last Wednesday in Oklahoma City as the referee was far-too-quick to un-holster his red card and left the visiting side down a man for the final hour of the match, a 1-0 loss. The call against Fatai … [Read more...]
A look at Reed’s new football coaching staff
Group of six assistants stacked with playing experience When Tony Amantia took the Reed job in mid February, he found himself in a juxtaposed position. Yes, he was taking over the most dominant program in the 4A North. The Raiders have won five of the last six, and six of the last eight, regional titles. But he also needed to replace an entire coaching staff. All of … [Read more...]
Sparks Tribune Male Athlete of the Year: Josh Prizina
Prizina was a first-team all-region selection on the hardwood and diamond Spanish Springs basketball and baseball standout Josh Prizina is the Sparks Tribune Male Athlete of the Year. He graduated last Tuesday as one of the most decorated athletes in school history and polished off his stellar career by earning first-team all-league honors in both sports. This winter, … [Read more...]
Sparks Tribune Team of the Year: Sparks boys soccer
Railroaders won first state title since 2011, third consecutive regional title The Sparks boys soccer team is the 2016-17 Sparks Tribune Team of the Year. After three consecutive years of frustration in the state semifinals, the Railroaders broke through in the fall, routing Chaparral 4-1, then blanking 3A South champ, Western, 2-0, one day later for their first state … [Read more...]